Rochester Post-Bulletin: Could Allied Health program save Southeast Tech?

Brett Boese, [email protected]
Oct 29, 2015

RED WING -- Tara Davis crouched over a modified mannequin Tuesday as eight classmates leaned in, watching her puncture the blood-filled plastic arm to simulate setting up an IV. The classroom at Minnesota State College - Southeast Technical in Red Wing was filled with "oohs" and "ahhs" when the first-year nursing student successfully hit a practice vein while reluctantly serving as the first one to give it a try.

"I just find that's the coolest thing ever," the Baldwin, Wis., native said as her tubing began to fill with movie-quality blood.

Davis and her classmates are in a program the college is watching closely right now. The lack of nursing students is the biggest factor in a $1.8 million budget shortfall this fall and a 6.5 percent decline in enrollment. But school officials are also counting on a revamped and expanded Allied Health program to "be our savior," according to Vice President of Student Affairs Nate Emerson.

Read more...